The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting opened in Fiji today with calls for sustained action to ensure the rule of law delivers progress and shared prosperity for the people of the Commonwealth in an increasingly uncertain world.
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Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting opens with calls to make rule of law work for all
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Welcome Address by Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon Sitiveni L. Rabuka, at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) 2026 at the The Crown Plaza Hotel on Monday 9 February 2026.
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Welcome Address by Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon Sitiveni L. Rabuka, at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2026
Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the opening ceremony and gala dinner of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) 2026 at the The Crown Plaza Hotel on Monday 9 February 2026.
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Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2026
The Commonwealth Observer Group to Bangladesh has commenced its observation of pre-poll arrangements and preparations for the forthcoming Parliamentary Election and Referendum, reaffirming the Commonwealth’s solidarity with the people of Bangladesh at this important moment in the country’s democratic journey.
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“We are here to affirm the Commonwealth’s solidarity with the people of Bangladesh” – Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, has deployed a team of Commonwealth experts to observe the February 11 General Election in Barbados.
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Commonwealth experts to observe Barbados election for the first time
Fiji will host the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting from 9 to 12 February 2026 at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort in Nadi.
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Fiji set to host Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting on advancing rule of law
5 February 2026 to 18 February 2026
Event
Commonwealth election observers will be in Bangladesh from 05 to 18 February for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections and the referendum on the July Charter.
The publication of the second edition of the Curriculum Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represents a significant step forward in the ongoing transformation of education as an essential driver for sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth.
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The Second Edition of the Curriculum Framework for the SDGs: Advancing Education for a Sustainable Future
H.E Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of the Republic of Ghana, will lead the Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections and the referendum on the July Charter. The Charter is a post-uprising reform framework proposing political and constitutional changes. Both polls are scheduled for 12 February 2026.
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Former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo to lead Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh Elections and Referendum
These model guidelines set out how governments can use feasibility studies to ensure that mining projects are responsibly planned and sustainably managed, and provide community benefits and investor confidence.
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Commonwealth Model Mining Feasibility Study Guidelines
The Commonwealth has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting democratic elections and upholding the principles of impartial observation, as set out in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (DoP).
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Commonwealth reaffirms commitment to the Declaration of Principles for international election observation
A Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), which observed Guyana’s 1 September 2025 General and Regional Elections has concluded that the elections were largely peaceful with voting, counting, and tabulation professionally managed.
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Guyana elections seen as fair, but inclusivity challenges remain - Commonwealth observer report on Guyana’s 2025 elections
The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the Chandler Institute for Justice, is conducting a capacity-building programme on legislative drafting and law reform for the Kingdom of Eswatini’s Attorney General’s Office, which sits within the Ministry of Justice.
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Commonwealth Secretariat upskills legal professionals in Eswatini to support sound governance
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, has appointed HE Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the immediate past President of Malawi, as her Special Envoy to the United Republic of Tanzania.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General appoints HE Dr Lazarus Chakwera as Special Envoy to Tanzania
9 February 2026 to 12 February 2026
(FJT - Fiji Time)
Ministerial meeting
The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) will be held in Fiji from 9 to 12 February 2026
22 September 2025 to 22 September 2025
(EST - New York time)
Ministerial meeting
The 25th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) will take place on Monday, 22 September 2025, 10:00–13:00 EST, at UN Headquarters, New York.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey will deploy a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to observe the forthcoming general and regional elections in Guyana, scheduled for 1 September 2025.
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Commonwealth to observe Guyana’s 2025 general and regional elections
25 August 2025 to 7 September 2025
Event
Commonwealth election observers were in Guyana from 25 August to 7 September for the country’s general and regional elections on 1 September 2025.
This year also marks the 45th year of the Commonwealth observing elections in member countries.
This year also marks the 45th year of the Commonwealth observing elections in member countries.
As superpower-driven artificial intelligence (AI) models evolve at pace, Chatham House research is turning the lens to how post-colonial Commonwealth countries are meaningfully shaping the global AI governance space. At a recent roundtable on the research, questions around inclusivity, language, localisation and job security were candidly addressed.
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AI governance through a Commonwealth lens: "Think local, code global"
A Commonwealth Latimer House Dialogue was held in Tonga last week to help strengthen how the country’s judicial, executive and legislative branches work together in service of the nation.
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Tongan government branches come together for Commonwealth dialogue on separation of powers
16 October 2025 to 16 October 2025
(Fiji Standard Time)
Event
Senior officials from Commonwealth law ministries will meet virtually on 16 October 2025 to discuss the preparation and programme for the 2026 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which will be held in the Republic of Fiji.
The Commonwealth has been working with Lesotho to bolster the kingdom's mounted police force, a key step towards ensuring peace and stability, and achieving economic development goals.
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Commonwealth support for improvements to Lesotho mounted police
Designed specifically for Africa, this toolkit provides a roadmap for establishing and strengthening Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) – essential frontline institutions in our collective cyber defence. It offers hands-on guidance, operational tools and policy templates that will help governments, institutions and technical communities across the region prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats with greater confidence and coordination.
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The Commonwealth Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) Toolkit for Africa
These guidelines, adopted by Commonwealth Law Ministers, draw on a wealth of academic and practitioner sources and other international guidelines on electronic evidence.
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Guidelines on the Treatment of Electronic Evidence in Criminal Proceedings
By Rajiv Nair, Public Sector Governance Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat
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Blog: Why the real AI gold rush isn’t where everyone thinks